Polis sides with the GOP on No Budget No Pay deal

WASHINGTON — Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, voted with most of the Republicans Wednesday on a proposal that freezes paychecks for lawmakers if they fail to pass a budget by April 15, 2013.

The “No Budget No Pay” vote in the House Wednesday passed handily 285-144 with all of Colorado’s Republicans and Polis voting yes. It was intended to compel the Democratic-controlled Senate to pass a budget, which it hasn’t done since April 2009.

It also temporarily grants the Treasury Department borrowing authority to pay its bills through May 18.

Polis acknowledged that No Budget No Pay was a “political vote and not likely something to become law,” but “it’s part of the process and it’s consistent to what I support.”

“My first priority is to solve this problem, fixing our national debt and doing it in a balanced way,” he said. “This proposal falls short on those accounts, but it would avert another crisis.”

The federal government has run out of money. In order to fulfill its financial obligations, Congress must grant authority to the executive branch to borrow more money. The nation’s debt is currently at $16.4 trillion.

“The impact of Congress’s inability to get its fiscal house in order cannot be overstated when it comes to the role it plays in creating economic uncertainty and slowing job growth. While we have passed responsible budgets in the House since I’ve been in Congress, the Senate has refused to even discuss them or present an alternative,” Tipton said, in a statement. “They’ve failed to do their job.”

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, called the House vote a “gimmick.”

“The fiscally responsible thing to do is for us to come together on both sides of the aisle and raise the debt ceiling for a full year,” she said, in a statement. “Doing so would give the markets and the business community the certainty they need, while enabling us to stop the partisan gamesmanship and tackle our larger fiscal challenges.”

I am always suspect of politico’s who want to engage in legislative distractions rather than engage in serious law. This “Polis” thing is like wearing a clown outfit to work and honking “Blinkey’s” nose. Get serious.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.